Wilbur f



(No Model.) W. F. CORNELIUS.

BICYCLE.

Patented July 14,1891.

sns co., muvo-Lmw.. wAsNlNc-wn n e NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

IVILBUR F. CORNELIUS, OF INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA.

BICYCLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 455,864, (lated July 14, 1891. `Applie'ttion iiled October 10, 1.890. Renewed May 20, 1891. Serial No. 393,489. (No model.)

To (LZZ whom it may concern:

13e it known that I, WILBUR F. CORNELIUS, of Indianapolis, in Marion count-y, and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bicycles; and I hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact'description of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the manufacture and application of inventions of its class to make and use the same.

The objects of my invention are, first, to produce a machine that shall be more elastic by making' certain parts of the frame of springsteel instead of inflexible tubing, as ordinarily used; second, the production of a machine that shall be sufficiently elastic for being constructed, as shown and described in the following specification and accompanying drawings.

l Figure'l is a side elevation of my invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical section through line 2, looking to the right. Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical section of steering-head through line 3. Fig. 4 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view through centerof seat-clamp. Fig. 5 is an enlarged vertical sectional detail view of rear frame-clamp or axle-block. Fig. (5 is an enlarged vertical cross-sectional view on line 6. Fig. 7 is an enlarged back view of section of front fork having coaster and tension-ad j usting brace attached. V

(t, h, c, and (l form the frame of my bicycle,

, (c and a being preferably of round rods reaching from the steering-head sleeve c to' aXleblock (Z, which is provided at (Z2 with a space adapted to fit over the axle-bar of rear wheel. b and b are in this case also round bars reaching from the lower end of c to axleblocks (Z and (Z, there being necessarily one on each side. At intermediate points said bars pass through clamps gand c, said clamps being for the double purpose of the bracing respective bars at said points and providing supports for the seat and pedal-shaft, respectively.

The strain on the bars (L and b tends to force Y said bar (t into block (Z,while the tendency from strain on I) acts in a reverse direction, thus tending to draw bar b away from said block (l. Hence to secure most thoroughly, a and b are interlocked, as seen at (ZG, a transverse gain being eut into the bar b at the junction of (t and b and near the end of the latter, and a tenon formed at end of bar (L, adapted to lit into said gain. b is first introduced into a closely-fitting opening in block d; then (t is inserted till it engages with Z), as seen at (Z6,

when they are both pinned or riveted, as seen at (Z3 and (Z4, a bolt or screw passing through said block at (Z5, said block being split vertically through the center of the section embraced by the angle formed by a and b, so that the bolt or screw at (l.4 closes the sides of (l at this point, thus causing the said bars to be securely bound. At the opposite end ot' this frame these bars are inserted into the proj ect-ions c and c2, fittin g very closely into the holes in said projections, and said holes being slotted from one to the other, as seen at c3 and c4. The bolts c5 are preferably of such size. that they will cut slightly into the bars at their inner sides, and when drawn firmly down the upper and lower sides of said projections c and c2 are compressed between the bars, the spaces cii and c4 being slightly contracted by the binding force lof said bolts c5, thus securing the bars firmly. A

c 1s a clamp secured tothe bars b and hf at a suitable point for the purpose of bracing the frame and also providing support for the bearings of the driving mechanism.

The seat-clamp g has internally ythe form of a broad, flattened, or oblong tapering band, excepting that it is provided with a cross-bar g4 at each end, against which certain wedges are adapted to bear, said wedges g at one end and g2 at the other. These wedges are shaped so as to conform to the shape of bars (L and CL. on their outer sides, and are preferably flat on the sides bearing against crossbars g4. rlhese wedges are adapted to operate in opposite directions, so that the bolts g3, one being on each side, each pass through two wed ges g and g2 on respective sides.` Thus it will be seen that when the nuts on bolts gs are drawn the respective two wedges g and g2, with which said bolts are engaged, will be tightened, by which means said bars (L and a are securely braced and said clam pthoroughly secured to said bars. Said seat-clamp is also provided with an upwardly-projecting sleeve,

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which supports the adjustable seat-bar g,.

said sleeve being provided with a set-screw, whereby said seat-bar maybe secured at any desiredheigl'it. Said seat-bar g is preferably made of tubing, or is tubular, at least, in its lower end section toadmit of the insertion of va brace-rod g5, said brace-rod resting at lower end in gear-clamp e and being held in position by a set-screw, which is at or near lower end of seat-bar gs. It is necessary to use this j brace only when the rideris a person of more than the average weight that the bicycle is intended ordinarily to bear. f/ is also provided with a small projection l7", to which is attached the guard Said guard is also attached to a similar' projection j? on gear-clamp e. Said guard'is also supported by a bracerod secured to it at or near its rear end and proceeding on either side to axle-blocks CZ and d and secured thereto at js.'

f is thc tubular steering-head, to the upper end of which is attached an adjustable handle-barf, secured by set-screwff. Said steering-head divides at its lower end into two tubular branches, within which are secured the upper ends of spring-barsf and f2,wliicli,

I togetherwith said head, constitute thefront fork, as it is usually termed, which supports the front wheel. Said spring-bars f and f2 proceeding from said steering-head in a curved line, as shown, and making one turn about the axle, forman eye Within which said axle is held. Then they proceed ina straight line to the rear of said wheel to a point h', where they serve,in combination with a bolt passing through them, as a clamp or fastening for the lower end of a brace-spring and guard h, said spring h. being secured at its upper end to stock f at f3 by two bolts, so that it affords great lateral support, while at the same time it allows of sufficient action in the springs f and f2.

f4 is a tension-bracewhich may be adj usted to give any required elasticity to the springs f and f2. This brace is secured to springsf and f2 at lower end by eyebolts f6, and at its upper end by eyebolts f5, said latter bolts also serving as coasters when provided with a suitable section of tubing serving to enlarge sufciently the section f5, adapting it to be used as a foot-rest in coasting.

As a means for adjusting the tension-brace f4, when it is desired to make the spring of the front fork more elastic, the eyebolts holding said brace are loosened and the brace placed in a more nearly horizontal position, and when it is desired to secure less elasticity the brace should be placed in a more nearly vertical position and secured by said bolts.

ris the brake shaped so as to conform to the shape of tire of the wheel, and is secured by a flat spring t" to spring h at fig by a rivet. Said brake is provided with aA small stud or pin 'i3 projecting` upwardly, and on this is pressed some elastic nipple 4, such as soft rubber. Then over this a cup 5, to which is attached an adjustable brake rod 6. The said rubber nipple, interposed as it :is between the metallic parts, will always preventrattling.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. ln a bicycle, the combination of a frame and a seat clamp provided with bindingwedges adapted to bind said clamp securely to said frame, substantially as shown.

2. ln a bicycleframe, the combination embracing a steering-head provided with two projections, each having longitudinal parallel holes lying near together, a slot ruiming from one hole to the other, frame or reach'bars inserted into said holes, and bolts passing through said projections through said slots and between said bars, cutting slightly into the latter, as and for the purposes set forth.

3. In a bicycle-frame and axle-block provided with a recess to rest upon the rear axle, holes in said block placed at or nearly at right angles to each other, a slot being cut entirely through the dividing-wall betwixt said holes, a bolt passing through said wall across said slot for the purpose of compressing said slot and binding said block upon frame-bars, in combination with frame-bars joined and interlocked within said block, substantially as set forth.

et. In a bicycle-frame, the combination of upper frame-bars, a seat block or clamp encircling said bars, four wedges within said block, two bearing against each bar and adapted to be drawn longitudinally toward each other on being tightened, and a bolt passing through said wedges adapted to draw them, substantially as shown.

5. In a bicycle, a steering-wheel fork composed of a stock provided at its lower end with two lateral projections extending downwardly,a spring-bar firmly secured in each of said projections, said bars making a back wardly-circular bend, reaching forward encircling the axle, and returning to rear of wheel, where they are joined together, and a bracespring, serving as mud-guard,secured to said stock at upper end and near lower end to junction of said spring-bars, substantially as set forth.

6. In a bicycle, a steering-wheel fork composed of a stock provided with two lateral projections extending downwardly, a springbar firmly secured in each of said projections, said bars making a backwardly-circular bend, then reaching forward encircling the axle, and returning in a nearly horizontal and straight line to rear `of wheel, where a junction of said bars is formed, a brace-spring, serving as mudguard, secured at upper end to said stock and near lower end to bars at said junction, and an adjustable tension -brace secured at one end to said circular bend and at other to section lying nearly in a horizontal line, substantially as set forth.

7 In a bicycle, the combination, with a wheel, a spring-fork composed of a stock, spring-bars proceeding therefrom and securely fastened thereto at upper end, making a circularly backward turn and proceeding IOL.'

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then forward encircling the axle, a bracespring and n1ud-guard,an adjustable tensionbrace, and a foot-rest, substantially as set forth.

8. In a bicycle, a brake, a pin projecting upwardly from said brake, an elastic nipple adapted to be placed over said pin, a plungerrod cup-shaped at its lower end adapting it to be placed over said elastic nipple,substantially as set forth.

9. In a bicycle, a brake-plate, a spring provided in or secured to said brake-plate by which it is held in position, a pin projecting upwardly from said brake-plate, abrake-plunger rod cup-shaped at its lower extremity, and :inelastic nipple adapted to be intercepted beset my hand hereunto this 7 th day of October,

o WILBUR F. CORNELIUS.

- lifitnesses:

GEORGE T. PORTER,

W. H. JORDAN. 

